Khone Phapheng Falls
ນ້ຳຕົກຕາດຄອນພະເພັງ
Overview
About this place
The largest waterfall in Southeast Asia by volume — the grand southern Mekong thundering through a maze of rocks near the Cambodian border, seen from a series of viewing platforms.
Khone Phapheng is not especially tall (around 20 metres), but it is the largest waterfall in Southeast Asia by volume: this is where the main channel of the Mekong forces its way through the rock barriers of Si Phan Don, just a few kilometres before the river enters Cambodia. Lao people call it the grand southern Mekong, and you can hear the roar long before you see it.
These falls stopped 19th-century French explorers from navigating the river to China, which is why they built a railway across Don Det and Don Khon instead. Local fishermen still work the channels using traditional methods.
The park has paved paths and viewing platforms and pavilions on several levels, looking out over a churning river hundreds of metres wide, plus gardens, restaurants and souvenir stalls. From the end of the rainy season into the early dry season (October–December) the flow is at its most dramatic; in the dry season the rock channels are more clearly visible.
The site is about 20 km from Nakasang pier, so it combines well with a stay on Don Det or Don Khon, or as a stop on the way to the Cambodian border. Never climb down onto the riverside rocks or past the railings — the currents are deadly.
Opening hours, fees and transport prices are sample data — please verify before visiting.
- #waterfall
- #mekong
- #nature
- #si-phan-don
- #photography
- #viewpoint
Updated Oct 18, 2026
Fair-price directions
How to get there
Standard prices from popular starting points. Agree the price before you get in — if a driver asks for more, show the Driver Card.
| From | Vehicle | Distance | Time | Fair price | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ban Nakasang pier (boats to Si Phan Don)Pier · ທ່າເຮືອບ້ານນາກະສັງ | Tuk-tukຕຸກຕຸກ | 20 km | 30 min | ₭ 200,000–300,000per vehicle≈ $9.3–$14 Round trip including about 1 hour of waiting — agree the price and waiting time first; easy to split between several people. | |
| Don Det boat landingPier · ທ່າເຮືອດອນເດດ | Boatເຮືອ | 23 km | 50 min | ₭ 120,000–180,000per person≈ $5.58–$8.37 Package sold by Don Det agencies: boat to Nakasang plus return tuk-tuk; transport only, entry fee not included. | |
| Pakse Southern Bus Terminal (Lak 8)Bus station · ສະຖານີຂົນສົ່ງສາຍໃຕ້ ປາກເຊ (ຫຼັກ 8) | Songthaewສອງແຖວ | 150 km | 3 hr 30 min | ₭ 60,000–90,000per person≈ $2.79–$4.19 Songthaew or van Pakse → Nakasang (about 145 km, 2.5–3 h), then a tuk-tuk for the last ~20 km. Ask the driver whether the vehicle passes the falls turn-off. | |
| Pakse city centre (riverside / Charoen Sedone)City centre · ໃຈກາງເມືອງປາກເຊ | Minivanລົດຕູ້ | 155 km | 3 hr | ₭ 1,500,000–2,000,000per vehicle≈ $70–$93 Private van day trip from Pakse — a long drive, so most travellers stay overnight in Si Phan Don instead. |
- Ban Nakasang pier (boats to Si Phan Don)Pier · ທ່າເຮືອບ້ານນາກະສັງTuk-tukຕຸກຕຸກ20 km30 min
Fair range
₭ 200,000–300,000per vehicle≈ $9.3–$14Round trip including about 1 hour of waiting — agree the price and waiting time first; easy to split between several people.
- Don Det boat landingPier · ທ່າເຮືອດອນເດດBoatເຮືອ23 km50 min
Fair range
₭ 120,000–180,000per person≈ $5.58–$8.37Package sold by Don Det agencies: boat to Nakasang plus return tuk-tuk; transport only, entry fee not included.
- Pakse Southern Bus Terminal (Lak 8)Bus station · ສະຖານີຂົນສົ່ງສາຍໃຕ້ ປາກເຊ (ຫຼັກ 8)Songthaewສອງແຖວ150 km3 hr 30 min
Fair range
₭ 60,000–90,000per person≈ $2.79–$4.19Songthaew or van Pakse → Nakasang (about 145 km, 2.5–3 h), then a tuk-tuk for the last ~20 km. Ask the driver whether the vehicle passes the falls turn-off.
- Pakse city centre (riverside / Charoen Sedone)City centre · ໃຈກາງເມືອງປາກເຊMinivanລົດຕູ້155 km3 hr
Fair range
₭ 1,500,000–2,000,000per vehicle≈ $70–$93Private van day trip from Pakse — a long drive, so most travellers stay overnight in Si Phan Don instead.
Location
On the map
Ban Thakho, Khong district, Champasak province (near the Cambodian border)
Close by
Nearby attractions
Don Khon French Railway & Bridge
ທາງລົດໄຟຝຣັ່ງເກົ່າ ດອນຄອນ
Don Khon Fish Laap House (sample)
ຮ້ານລາບປາ ດອນຄອນ (ຕົວຢ່າງ)
Don Khon Riverside Lodge (sample)
ລອດ ແຄມຂອງ ດອນຄອນ (ຕົວຢ່າງ)
Li Phi (Somphamit) Falls
ຕາດລີ່ຜີ (ຕາດສົມພາມິດ)
Don Det Bicycle Rental & Repair (sample)
ຮ້ານເຊົ່າ ແລະ ສ້ອມລົດຖີບ ດອນເດດ (ຕົວຢ່າງ)Traveller reviews
Reviews
4.5
11 reviews
Aiko· JP
5.0水量がすごくて迫力満点。メコン川の力を感じました。
Oct 18, 2026
ແສງຈັນ· LA
5.0ມາກັບຄອບຄົວ ມ່ວນຫຼາຍ ຈະມາອີກ
Sep 4, 2026
李娜· CN
5.0非常漂亮，值得一去！建议早上去人少。
Aug 31, 2026
Krit· TH
5.0ราคาค่ารถตรงตามที่ PakseHub บอก ไม่โดนโก่งราคาเลย
Aug 25, 2026
山田· JP
3.0良い場所ですが、週末は混んでいました。
Aug 8, 2026
Sophie· FR
5.0Absolutely worth the trip — one of the highlights of our time in southern Laos.
Aug 7, 2026
Sophie· FR
5.0Beautiful and peaceful. Go early to beat the heat and the tour vans.
Jul 28, 2026
王磊· CN
4.0从巴色包车过来很方便，司机按网站价格收费。
Jul 9, 2026
Nok· TH
4.0ประทับใจมาก แนะนำให้มาช่วงเช้าคนน้อย อากาศไม่ร้อน
Jul 8, 2026
Hannah· DE
4.0Loved it. Transport prices were exactly as listed on PakseHub, no surprises.
Jul 7, 2026